I have enjoyed Thing #7. I think commenting a an extremely important part of the blogging community. It really does begin to connect people. It reminded me of a recent string of comments that I read and actually got really fired up over. Many of you may have already read this article and all the comments and felt the same way I did.
Read the article Mesquite middle school students clash in mock Civil War battle, then read all the comments at the bottom starting with the OLDEST first.
I found the commenting more interesting that the actual article. One day toward the end of school, I spent my 45 minute conference period reading the article and all the comments. You will quickly notice that it's the comments that stir your emotions and connection to students, other teachers, and MISD than the story did.
I just thought this was a perfect example of how commenting builds community.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Thing #6- Feed your reader
This was actually a little challenging for me at first. I wanted to find sites and blogs that would actually help me that just fluff news or magazine material. A feed that I found that I really want to keep up with is a page on the DIY (Do It Yourself) website about Interior home improvement. Recently, my wife and I have been looking at houses and found one that we are (hopefully) going to purchase. It does need a LOT of work on the inside. We have been watching the DIY channel quite a bit lately and are wanting to fix up this house on our own.
One of the postings that came up on my reader, Keep Your Money in your Pocket, talks about how preventative maintenance will save you money in the long run. As we look at the house we are trying to buy, we realize that a lot of the work that neds to be done on it is because the people who lived there before did not do regualr maintenance. This feed is really good for us and hopefully will lead to several improvements we make on our house.
One of the postings that came up on my reader, Keep Your Money in your Pocket, talks about how preventative maintenance will save you money in the long run. As we look at the house we are trying to buy, we realize that a lot of the work that neds to be done on it is because the people who lived there before did not do regualr maintenance. This feed is really good for us and hopefully will lead to several improvements we make on our house.
Thing #5- Getting Started with RSS
Before this "Thing" I have never even heard of an RSS. I didn't know what a reader was, and I didn't know how to follow News like this. It really is pretty cool. This will be a MUCH more effective way to get the news I want in a fraction of the time!! I think it will take me a little while to get used to, though.
One of the news stories I read through on my reader, "Google Earth- We Need Our Earth," was a posting about 4th graders getting a petition signed to get Google Earth updated and increase time in school accessing Google Earth. Personally, I am a HUGE fan of Goolge Maps and Google Earth. I have spent a great deal of times looking at both of these for directions to different places, to see what is around the place where I am going, and even using the street view so I know exactly where to turn in to get to where I'm going. It has been very helpful to me.
A frustrating part about Google Earth is that some places are SEVERAL years behind. Developments where houses have been for 5+ years appear to be just fields on Google Earth. I would sign the petition for these 4th graders. I think that Google Earth could be very students at any grade level.
Also, looking at Google maps frequently could help students understand how to apply cardinal directions. I believe this is a skill that is never learned my many people. It is much easier for me to understand " from I-635, exit I-30 East" much more than "go right on I-30." Relative direction are often confusing. Google Earth and Google Maps could help these elementary students learn how to apply map reading skills, learn cardinal directions, use clues and follow directions to get to specific landmarks, and many other educational applications.
One of the news stories I read through on my reader, "Google Earth- We Need Our Earth," was a posting about 4th graders getting a petition signed to get Google Earth updated and increase time in school accessing Google Earth. Personally, I am a HUGE fan of Goolge Maps and Google Earth. I have spent a great deal of times looking at both of these for directions to different places, to see what is around the place where I am going, and even using the street view so I know exactly where to turn in to get to where I'm going. It has been very helpful to me.
A frustrating part about Google Earth is that some places are SEVERAL years behind. Developments where houses have been for 5+ years appear to be just fields on Google Earth. I would sign the petition for these 4th graders. I think that Google Earth could be very students at any grade level.
Also, looking at Google maps frequently could help students understand how to apply cardinal directions. I believe this is a skill that is never learned my many people. It is much easier for me to understand " from I-635, exit I-30 East" much more than "go right on I-30." Relative direction are often confusing. Google Earth and Google Maps could help these elementary students learn how to apply map reading skills, learn cardinal directions, use clues and follow directions to get to specific landmarks, and many other educational applications.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Thing #4- Blogging Begins with Reading
In the few blogs that I visited this evening, I quickly came to realize how important blogs are to our society today. Before the news was mainstream only, but today, we benefit from more than just the facts that the media chooses to share with us. We get the good stuff! So what is considered to be "the good stuff?" The good stuff is the personal connection one makes with a given environment, situation, circumstance, stimuli, story, comment, webpage, relationship, song, or anything else imaginable. The good stuff can be found by anyone and everyone SOMEWHERE on the internet and definitely in blogs.
Admittedly, I have previously not been a blog reader, but even just scratching the surface of this Web 2.0 class I have begun to realize that the good stuff lies a click away in a blog written about the experiences someone had that day, a thought that crossed their mind, a story that they told, a song that played as I open their blog, a picture that is worth more than a thousand words, an article posted on the sidebar, or the simple, comforting affirmation of a comment on your blog stating "I completely agree," which makes you believe that your thoughts were significant to someone, even if it was just one person. That's the good stuff. As we comment and question and dig and read, we have the ability immerse ourselves in a world where we can connect.
Blogs have revolutionized the "news" because it is now no longer regulated by the few who thought they held the information we needed to know. Everyone has a story or thought or picture or song or prayer or comment that IS significant to someone. There are millions of blogs out there. The good stuff is at the click of a mouse.
Admittedly, I have previously not been a blog reader, but even just scratching the surface of this Web 2.0 class I have begun to realize that the good stuff lies a click away in a blog written about the experiences someone had that day, a thought that crossed their mind, a story that they told, a song that played as I open their blog, a picture that is worth more than a thousand words, an article posted on the sidebar, or the simple, comforting affirmation of a comment on your blog stating "I completely agree," which makes you believe that your thoughts were significant to someone, even if it was just one person. That's the good stuff. As we comment and question and dig and read, we have the ability immerse ourselves in a world where we can connect.
Blogs have revolutionized the "news" because it is now no longer regulated by the few who thought they held the information we needed to know. Everyone has a story or thought or picture or song or prayer or comment that IS significant to someone. There are millions of blogs out there. The good stuff is at the click of a mouse.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Thing #2- Web 2.0
I thought the video’s in Thing #2 were really good. The videos were very factual but in a way extremely artistic. Some of the statistics blew my mind! (Such as that the largest English speaking country in the world in 2016 will be China, and 100% of College Graduates in India speak English). I did learn some good information in these videos, but most of all, they allowed me to see teaching from a new perspective.
I haven't really thought about teaching in the 21st century being very much different than before. I have used technology in my classroom, but I now have a better understanding of how MUCH I need to be using technology and teaching students how to become lifelong learners.
The article, “A Day in the Life of Web 2.0” showed me that teachers can effectively use technology in the classroom in order to further engage students, stimulate higher level thinking, and preparing them for the lifelong use of technology in the 21st century.
I am excited to use technology that I learn in 23 Things in my classroom. The important part for me will be making sure that I take responsibility for my own learning (Habit #2). I can use contacts I make through this class to help if I get stuck trying to use technology that is also new to me. This class will not only give me the tools I need to apply in the classroom, I will also leave with a list of people I can contact as resources for tech support.
I haven't really thought about teaching in the 21st century being very much different than before. I have used technology in my classroom, but I now have a better understanding of how MUCH I need to be using technology and teaching students how to become lifelong learners.
The article, “A Day in the Life of Web 2.0” showed me that teachers can effectively use technology in the classroom in order to further engage students, stimulate higher level thinking, and preparing them for the lifelong use of technology in the 21st century.
I am excited to use technology that I learn in 23 Things in my classroom. The important part for me will be making sure that I take responsibility for my own learning (Habit #2). I can use contacts I make through this class to help if I get stuck trying to use technology that is also new to me. This class will not only give me the tools I need to apply in the classroom, I will also leave with a list of people I can contact as resources for tech support.
Thing #1- 7 1/2 Habits
As I began watching the video talking about lifelong learning, I thought to myself, "Are these not things that most people try to do?" As I thought about it more, things that often come naturally to me, and to many of us as teachers, do not always come naturally to our students and their families.
Through this Web 2.0 based class, I really hope that I come out of this with a better perspective of life long learning and application of technology. I also hope that this well help me show my students and others how important life long learning and how to use technology to help their everyday lives.
Of the 7 1/2 Habits, the most challenging to me will be Habit #5, creating my learning tool box. I use technology on a daily basis, but there are many aspects of technology that I can't afford at this point or simply haven't put the time into using.
The easiest habit for me will be Habit #3, viewing problems as challenges. I constantly do this in my life. I love a challenge!! I am pretty competitive and I am always looking to make myself better. i also love to problem solve, so viewing problems as challenges is something I do everyday.
The most important habit for me as an educator is Habit #2, to accept responsibility for my own learning. It is going to be my responsibility that I say caught up with the times and use the newest and best techniques in the classroom. I must be a life long learner in order to teach others how do effectively be life long learners.
Through this Web 2.0 based class, I really hope that I come out of this with a better perspective of life long learning and application of technology. I also hope that this well help me show my students and others how important life long learning and how to use technology to help their everyday lives.
Of the 7 1/2 Habits, the most challenging to me will be Habit #5, creating my learning tool box. I use technology on a daily basis, but there are many aspects of technology that I can't afford at this point or simply haven't put the time into using.
The easiest habit for me will be Habit #3, viewing problems as challenges. I constantly do this in my life. I love a challenge!! I am pretty competitive and I am always looking to make myself better. i also love to problem solve, so viewing problems as challenges is something I do everyday.
The most important habit for me as an educator is Habit #2, to accept responsibility for my own learning. It is going to be my responsibility that I say caught up with the times and use the newest and best techniques in the classroom. I must be a life long learner in order to teach others how do effectively be life long learners.
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